Al Ford said since the day he was asked to step in he has pledged to himself, the department’s employees and the city of Freeport that he would help to make the fire department a place the firefighters could be proud of rather than what it had become.

“When I got here there was trash everywhere, inefficiencies. We’re making progress now,” Ford said. “I told the guys shortly after Ben Greenslait was terminated that this was their fire station and we would make it what they wanted. The next day they got started.”

Greenslait was placed on administrative duty in June when it was determined that he was not properly certified to work a fire. He was terminated in September after he failed to pass the certification test.

Now, Ford said the station is moving forward with everything from new pagers and uniforms to organizing storage space and even getting a dumpster to keep the grounds clean.

“We’re still in the process of getting things worked out, but they are 100 percent invested in the improvements,” Ford said of the firefighters. “We’re only five weeks out, but the guys here have already done a lot to get this place in shape.”

Ford said rooms in the firehouse were full of clutter. Old uniforms sat in a pile and portions of the building were in dire need of being patched up and repainted.

That work is now getting done.

“Morale here is up 110 percent. It’s been a 360 turn,” Ford said. “I’m old school and I’m bringing in the old ideas and we’ve made a lot of improvements.”

Ford said his men have been given opportunities to attend training outside the area, something not done before he joined the department. The department now boasts more certifications in the short time he’s been there than in the past several years.

He also said the firefighters are working on building a community presence, starting with a Thanksgiving drive for the needy and then a canned food and toy drive for Christmas.

Ford said he is contracted to work with the department until Jan. 31.

“As long as I’m here, I’m going to make the improvements needed and help these guys out. They’re family,” he said. “I made a promise July 6 when I came over here: We will do anything and everything to help this city and go forward with this.”

Al Ford said since the day he was asked to step in he has pledged to himself, the department’s employees and the city of Freeport that he would help to make the fire department a place the firefighters could be proud of rather than what it had become.

“When I got here there was trash everywhere, inefficiencies. We’re making progress now,” Ford said. “I told the guys shortly after Ben Greenslait was terminated that this was their fire station and we would make it what they wanted. The next day they got started.”

Greenslait was placed on administrative duty in June when it was determined that he was not properly certified to work a fire. He was terminated in September after he failed to pass the certification test.

Now, Ford said the station is moving forward with everything from new pagers and uniforms to organizing storage space and even getting a dumpster to keep the grounds clean.

“We’re still in the process of getting things worked out, but they are 100 percent invested in the improvements,” Ford said of the firefighters. “We’re only five weeks out, but the guys here have already done a lot to get this place in shape.”

Ford said rooms in the firehouse were full of clutter. Old uniforms sat in a pile and portions of the building were in dire need of being patched up and repainted.

That work is now getting done.

“Morale here is up 110 percent. It’s been a 360 turn,” Ford said. “I’m old school and I’m bringing in the old ideas and we’ve made a lot of improvements.”

Ford said his men have been given opportunities to attend training outside the area, something not done before he joined the department. The department now boasts more certifications in the short time he’s been there than in the past several years.

He also said the firefighters are working on building a community presence, starting with a Thanksgiving drive for the needy and then a canned food and toy drive for Christmas.

Ford said he is contracted to work with the department until Jan. 31.

“As long as I’m here, I’m going to make the improvements needed and help these guys out. They’re family,” he said. “I made a promise July 6 when I came over here: We will do anything and everything to help this city and go forward with this.”